New Zealand make three changes for second South Africa Test / Photo: Michael Bradley - AFP/File
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New Zealand make three changes for second South Africa Test
New Zealand have made three personnel changes and one positional for the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
Concussions sustained in the 33-16 first Test victory for the All Blacks in Johannesburg last Saturday forced two changes among the forwards.
Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord suffered head knocks when they collided trying to halt a charge by Springboks No.8 Jasper Wiese.
They are ruled out and replaced by prop George Bower, a replacement last weekend, and Tupou Vaa'i, who moves from the back row to lock.
Vaa'i is replaced in the back row by Simon Parker, who is promoted after coming off the bench at Ellis Park.
Josh Moorby, a try scorer in the first Test, drops to the bench and is replaced on the wing by Leroy Carter, another replacement used in the first match who is promoted.
Prop Xavier Numia and lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who captained the All Blacks to two of their four victories against franchise sides, have been added to the bench.
"While we were happy with the win last week, I think both teams will be better this weekend," New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie said.
"We have played four Tests this year and are still growing as a group," he added, referring to Nations Championship wins over France, Italy and Ireland before touring South Africa.
"I'm really excited about the competition for places and the performances of the squad across the matches here in South Africa, and we are really looking forward to this weekend."
Rennie boasts an excellent record against South Africa. Before the Johannesburg Test triumph, he coached Australia to three victories in four Tests against the Springboks.
After Cape Town, the series continues in Johannesburg on September 5 and concludes in American city Baltimore seven days later.
New Zealand (15-1)
Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker; Tupou Vaa'i, Fabian Holland; Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, George Bower
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby
Coach: Dave Rennie (NZL)
D.Verstraete--JdB
